Groundwater makes up nearly two-thirds of all the water Tampa Bay Water supplies to its member governments, so maintaining and improving wellfield infrastructure is critical to providing the region high-quality drinking water.
At its November meeting, Tampa Bay Water’s board approved the utility’s 2022 legislative goals and priorities ahead of the upcoming Florida Legislative Session. Included in these goals are securing funding for the Morris Bridge Wellfield Improvements Project.
Separately, the board awarded a contract to Archer Western for the Cypress Bridge Wellfield Improvements Project. Both projects focus on replacing aging infrastructure and improving reliability and resiliency for the regional system.
Morris Bridge Wellfield
The Morris Bridge Wellfield, located in north-central Hillsborough County, provides an average of 8 million gallons per day (mgd) and up to a maximum of 33.75 mgd of drinking water to the Tampa Bay region. This project, which is in the design phase, will replace aging pumps, motors, electrical components and instrumentation, and improve electrical safety.
Additionally, this project will remove five wells that are no longer in service. These wellfield improvements will reduce maintenance and operations costs, maintain the wellfield’s existing level of service and increase reliability. Tampa Bay Water is seeking $2.5 million in funding during the 2022 Florida Legislative Session for this project.
Cypress Bridge Wellfield
The Cypress Bridge Wellfield, located in south-central Pasco and north-central Hillsborough counties, includes 10 production wells supplying an average of 11 mgd of drinking water up to a maximum of 40 mgd.
The Cypress Bridge Wellfield Improvements Project will improve reliability and safety by replacing infrastructure that has reached the end of its useful life and improve standby power and connectivity, and electrical safety. The project will replace pumps, motors, fans, louvers and electrical equipment at all 10 wells and replace diesel generators at four wells. Tampa Bay Water’s board awarded a contract for $5.8 million to Archer Western for this project.
